College Football Week 1 Recap

1. Zero upsets among top 25

The game I was most worried about was #15 Arizona State vs Texas A&M, as the Aggies were actually favored to win despite being unranked.  And while I was right to be concerned (Texas A&M beat the Sun Devils 38 - 17), this prediction was spoiled before that game even started.  Northwestern surprised everyone with a 16 - 6 upset of #21 Stanford.  But perhaps more perplexing is the Wildcats' absence in the rankings after the big win, while A&M vaulted to 16th.

2. Utes spoil Harbaugh's debut with double-digit beat-down

My score prediction (24 - 14) was very close to the actual result (24 - 17), and I was right about Michigan's offensive struggles, but a late touchdown drive by the Wolverines ruined any chance of getting this one right.  As expected, Michigan's defense was decent, but Iowa transfer-QB Jake Rudock looked shaky and their running game just never got going.  Things get a little easier for Harbaugh's squad next week with Oregon State coming to town, but it's clear that any delusions that the new head coach would instantly transform Michigan into a top-tier program in year 1 should be dismissed.

3. Ezekiel Elliott tops 200 rushing yards... again

This one looked promising, as Elliott burst out of the gate with an 80-yard touchdown run on his first carry of the game.  But Ohio State limited the Heisman hopeful's touches, as the Virginia Tech defense loaded the box.  The Buckeyes compensated by finding creative ways to get Braxton Miller and other playmakers involved.  The result was a resounding 42 - 24 win that should help erase the memory of last year's painful loss in Columbus.  This prediction never came true though, as the running back had just 11 carries for 122 yards.

4. Illinois falters without head coach, loses opener to Kent State

No head coach? No problem.  At least for Illinois, who steamrolled Kent State 52 - 3.  It was more of the same for the Golden Flashes, who will look for a better result next week against FCS foe Delaware State.

5. Virginia Tech players make it through first game without getting fined

I think Bud Foster had his hands full without having to worry about collecting petty cash from his players for every missed tackle or other miscue (though who knows, perhaps the extra motivation would have helped).

Week 1 record: 1 - 4
Overall record: 1 - 4

Ouch.  Not a good start.

Other headlines from week 1:

Cardale Jones named starting quarterback for Ohio State

By the time Labor Day finally rolled around, it seemed like everyone had collectively decided that it would be J.T. Barrett taking the reins at quarterback for the Buckeyes.  Somewhere along the way, we had forgotten that the decision was Meyer's and Meyer's alone.  With Jones getting the nod, he supplanted Elliot as the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman.  Braxton Miller is up there on Vegas' list as well, at number 12, with Barrett right behind him.  For those of you keeping track, that's 4 Ohio State players in the top 13 most popular picks to win the Heisman at this point.  Let's be real though, we've only played one game, and a lot can change between now and December.  But it's clear that expectations are sky-high for these Buckeyes.

Big Ten off to another rough start

It's obviously too early to write off any particular league (we learned that last year after nearly everyone dismissed the Big Ten following a poor week 2 showing), but things definitely could have gone better for Midwestern college football fans during kick-off week.  The good: Northwestern knocked off Stanford; Ohio State exacted revenge on Virginia Tech; Michigan State, Iowa, Maryland, Rutgers, and Illinois all handled lesser opponents with relative ease.  The bad: Michigan and Minnesota came up short against Utah and TCU, respectively; Indiana barely survived an FCS upset bid after surrendering 47 points to Southern Illinois; Nebraska lost to BYU on a Hail Mary as time expired.  The ugly: Penn State gave up 10 sacks in a 27 - 10 loss to Temple; Wisconsin was blown out by Alabama, 35 - 17; Purdue lost to Marshall, 41 - 31, as the Boilermaker QB threw 4 interceptions (2 returned for touchdowns... by the same player).

When all else fails, play dead

A Bowling Green DL lost his shoe in the game against Tennessee, and then suddenly and inexplicably went down with an undisclosed injury... idiocy or brilliance?  You decide.